Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad

The three-story residence stood behind high concrete walls crowned with barbed wire and featured two entrance gates. Inside the perimeter, vegetable gardens and livestock allowed the occupants to live with minimal dependence on outside resources.

American special forces carried out an operation here on May 2, 2011, during which Osama bin Laden was killed. The Pakistani government ordered the compound demolished in February 2012.

Local residents knew the structure as Waziristan Haveli, reflecting the regional architectural style of mansions in Pakistani culture.

The site no longer exists after authorities removed it completely from the location. The surrounding area in Bilal Town is an ordinary residential neighborhood without special markers or indications.

The compound stood less than a kilometer from the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul, which later sparked diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and the United States. The unusual construction with minimal windows and towering exterior walls drew little attention from neighbors for years.

Location: Abbottabad

Location: Bilal Town

Inception: 2005

Official opening: 2005

Floors above the ground: 3

Elevation above the sea: 1,260 m

GPS coordinates: 34.16933,73.24244

Latest update: December 12, 2025 20:41